Connecting flight that often doesn't connect? What to do??

Jon_01

My wife and I are are flying to Hong Kong on Saturday next.
The flight was booked months back with KLM.

We're going via Amsterdam.

I've just found out that the 'connecting' flight from Bristol very often doesn't arrive on time to make the connection (info on Flight Aware).
My wife's is not a good flyer, I have to have to prebook seats to make sure she's ok.

I've contacted KLM about this and they are less than interested!
First they say they don't' keep records of when their flights land (which is clearly BS as they are required to by law).
Then they say that if the flight doesn't connect they'll put us on either their next flight or a partner airlines flight. When I asked about the prebooked seats and my wife's issues with flying that stated that we'd be randomly assigned seats on the new flight (obviously, not going work), or (and this is the bit that really peeing me off), I can change the outgoing flight for £120 per person + the extra cost of of the new seats!!
So I have to pay because they can't schedule in a way to make sure their own connecting flights actually connect!!

Can any offer any advise on what the best course of action is?

Many thanks. . .

shaun_from_Africa

What are the planned times for your arrival in Amsterdam and the time that the HK flight is due to depart?

k3lvc

Amsterdam is generally a well oiled hub (and a far better experience than Heathrow for global connections)

Flying round the world can be a challenging experience and you can't control the risks of delay/plane changes etc and in this case you're looking for a problem that may not exist.

What are your times of arrival/departure ?

bris

You're complaining about something that hasn't even happened, there is no advice for if's and buts that anyone can give you.


KLM aren't interested because you have no complaint yet and probably never will.

Jon_01

The Bristol flight 'should' land at Amsterdam at 16.05

The HK flight takes off at 17.15

Flight Aware shows the Bristol flight is often 30 to 60 minutes late landing!

k3lvc

Just looked at your OP and you give a day - based on that you've a 55min connection on a Sat pm - not exactly peak time and you've no immigration to go through at AMS. You'll probably find you land early allowing you to be bussed into the main terminal so you're 'on-time'.

Looking at todays schedule you'll arrive at D6 and leave from F6 - probably a 8-10 min walk between the two

Given the length of the flight to HK there's a significant chance that they'd hold for 10mins if they know the inbound connecting flights are en-route

couriervanman

Jon_01 wrote: »

The Bristol flight 'should' land at Amsterdam at 16.05

The HK flight takes off at 17.15

Flight Aware shows the Bristol flight is often 30 to 60 minutes late landing!

If id been booking that i would have booked earlier flight out/later flight to HK or would have arrived in Amsterdam the day before and had a day sightseeing

k3lvc

Jon_01 wrote: »

Flight Aware shows the Bristol flight is often 30 to 60 minutes late landing!

Aren't statistics great - if you add the other side of the story that the HK flight is often late departing.

Your only control over this situation is to ask KLM to transfer you to the 06h20 ex Bristol and spend the day in Schiphol

peachyprice

Jon_01 wrote: »

The Bristol flight 'should' land at Amsterdam at 16.05

The HK flight takes off at 17.15

Flight Aware shows the Bristol flight is often 30 to 60 minutes late landing!

Minimum connecting time is 50 mins, but that is a bit tight IMO. I wouldn't have booked a 55 connection, it's big busy airport, even on a Saturday afternoon.

One of the problems at AMS is the time it can take from landing to gate, you can easily taxi for a good 15 mins if they are using the furthest runway.

photome

I have flown through Amsterdam a few times ( and missed a connection, was put on a flight 24 hours later)


I wouldnt have booked with that short a connection if I knew it was going to stress me out.


the other problem with Amsterdam is if you land on the furthest runway from the terminal it can be a 20 minute taxi and then another 10 minutes on a bus ( this is scheduled in to you flight time so as long as you leave on time you should make it)


If you are late leaving you will have to hope your onward connection is late.


regarding seating they can only give you what they have but I like I said I have missed a connection and been bumped off, but have always got 2 seats together for me and wife on the alternative flight

k3lvc

photome wrote: »

I have flown through Amsterdam a few times ( and missed a connection, was put on a flight 24 hours later)

110 visits for me in last 3yrs and only 2 missed connections - mine are generally scheduled at 50mins and involve going through passport control and a walk to the end of B/C/D gates - the OP's should be an easier transit.

The OP has a contingency that there is a later flight from CDG to HKG - it's likely KLM would stick them on an AMS-CDG shuttle and then the AF later AF flight to HKG